Fabulous, gorgeous– that’s what I say looking through the hundredth gardening book I’ve bought this year. I’d love a garden like that one day, closing the page on a Japanese-themed water feature.
I decided instead of looking through my books to venture into a real garden. So I took myself off to 45 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, the home of writer, lecturer, TV personality, garden critic and renowned gardener Helen Dillon.

Tucked away down a leafy cul-de-sac is an imposing 1830s house, which is the home of Helen, her husband Val and their two dogs, Reg and Daisy.

I’d better admit at this stage that I am not a fervent gardener and I’m afraid I wouldn’t know my berberis from my bellis! But that didn’t quash my enthusiasm nor my ability to appreciate this wonderful experience, because that is what it was from the moment I was greeted at the front door by Helen and Sir Reginald, the Dillon’s dachshund who has an awful lot to say for himself.

Shown into the drawing room of their elegant house, I was immediately captivated by the view from the window that overlooks this garden. Sitting on almost an acre, this garden is the canvas on which Helen Dillon and her husband Val have created a constantly changing work of art that stems from her years of experience. Colour, texture, form and structure are what this artist uses to create testimony to her knowledge and skill.

Out into the garden, Helen says that it is “the result of 34 years of sweat and bother.” Taking centre stage is the Islamic-style canal set in light and dark grey Irish limestone. This long sheet of water that flows effortlessly from one level to another was done to reflect the sky and in winter catches the light and brings it down to ground level.

The long borders facing each other on either side show contrast in colour and content. On the left there are the strong, loud colours such as red and magenta, while on the right are the pale, quiet colours like blue and white

The intensity of the colours of these blooms, I am told, is due to the fact that they are situated where the clouds don’t allow the sun to blast the colour out of them. The combination of plant, form and colour gives to the innocent, untrained eye an impression that fools you into thinking it all looks so so simple.

The ivy-clad arches lead from the canal to the rest of the garden, which has been designed into different individual spaces. From the bamboos set in gravel to the elegant greenhouse this is a jigsaw of design whose pieces are constantly changing.

Described as Ireland’s gardening ambassador, Helen Dillon is self-taught. Her love of gardening that started as a child in her native Scotland grew into a passion that has put her on the world stage.
Familiar to us through RTE’s gardening programmes and her column in the Sunday Tribune, she is renowned throughout the gardening world. She has been honoured with numerous awards including a Royal Horticultural Society Veitch Memorial medal, and membership of the board of the New York Botanical Gardens, which gives a clear indication of the regard in which she is held.

Dillon is in constant demand as a lecturer, both here and abroad, for her expertise and knowledge of plants. For those of you who have not enlisted in the green-fingered brigade and have no hope of reaching for a list of plants for moist, dry, sunny or shady places or don’t have the possibility to gain the expertise of half a century of gardening, Helen Dillon is available on a consultancy basis.

All avid gardeners have the chance to gain endless practical advice from the book ‘Helen Dillon on Gardening’, a compendium of columns from the Sunday Tribune which has been reissued by Townhouse.

The Dillon Garden is open daily from 2pm-6pm in March, July, and August and on Sundays only 2-6pm in April, May, June and September (Adults €5.00, Groups by appointment). When the weather gets better go, see, enjoy! Website: www.dillongarden.com